Fire deaths accused in court

Woman denies fire deaths

Melanie Smith denies starting the fire and causing the deaths of five people Credit: Jeff Pitt

A 43-year-old woman has denied murdering five people after a house fire in Prestatyn.

Melanie Jane Smith, from Prestatyn, appeared at Caernarfon crown court via video link and pleaded not guilty to the murders of Liam Timbrell, 23, his partner Lee-Anna Shiers, aged 20, 15-month-old son Charlie, and Lee-Anna’s niece and nephew, Skye and Bailey Allen, two and four.

All five died following a blaze in flats in Maes Y Groes, Prestatyn on October 19 last year.

Judge Merfyn Hughes QC remanded Ms Smith in custody until a hearing on March 18. Her trial is due to take place in April. She also denied threatening to burn down a house in September.